English
instinct
Instinct comes from Latin īnstinguō ‘to incite, to instigate’, from stinguō ‘to prick’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *stengʷ- ‘to push, thrust’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*stengʷ-‘to push, thrust’by way of Proto-Italic *stengʷōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstinguō‘to prick’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEīnstinguō‘to incite, to instigate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEīnstīnctuspast participle of īnstinguō
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1593instinct
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*stengʷ-‘to push, thrust’by way of Proto-Italic *stengʷōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstinguō‘to prick’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEīnstinguō‘to incite, to instigate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEīnstīnctuspast participle of īnstinguō
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1593instinct
Earliest quotation: c. 1593, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]: “By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust / Ensuing…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *stengʷ- ‘to push, thrust’
through Latin stinguō ‘to prick’
Today it means
noun A natural or inherent impulse or behaviour.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *stengʷ- / instinct